Darkroom Fellowship - Batch 4 (Closed)
The CPB Darkroom is a beacon for the resurgence of historical photographic practice in India and beyond. The darkroom aims to make alternative and analog photographic practice accessible to the wider community through a range of products, services and learning opportunities. Since its launch in April 2023, the darkroom has been host to 150 + workshop participants, processed 1500+ rolls of film and sold 5000+ rolls of low-cost film to the community. We are looking to grow further as we approach CPB IV and prepare to host our first international Darkroom Residency, while growing our commercial offerings and engaging in innovative research projects. Location: Chennai, India
Duration: 6 months starting immediately.
Role type: Full-Time | In person in Kottivakkam |
Monday to Saturday - 10 am to 7 pm Remuneration: Rs 15,000 per month for 6 months
The fellowship will involve :
Researching and Reading material on Film & Alt Photography
Managing the community darkroom including assisting visitors and students.
Preparing spaces for Film Development and Alt processes and resetting them thereafter
Assisting in conducting film photography and alt-process workshops
Working with your hands as we experiment and innovate signature alt photo accessories and tools
Preparing Alt Photo Kits & ReSpooling Film stocks for dispatch
Shooting test rolls of film for technical tests, teaching and promotions
Managing inventories of raw materials and restocking as necessary
Taking meticulous notes of observations from various experiments
Consistently developing film rolls and making prints after proper training
Managing the Community Darkroom communication on Whatsapp, Email, Social Media and Website.
Working with the darkroom team and learning from peers.
Skills & Traits we are looking for:
Punctual and Self-Motivated: The applicant will need to work unsupervised for long periods of time and will need to meet deadlines and deliverables consistently.
Meticulous and Detail-Oriented: Film and Alt processes are all about experimentation and recording observations. Familiarity with Word and Excel/Google Suite is preferred.
A basic understanding of photography including shooting either in film or digital in full manual mode is mandatory
Working knowledge of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop is ideal
Visual art abilities include painting or sculpture or video (optional)
Interest and aptitude for Social media content creation (optional)
Fluency in English is mandatory.
Good communication skills and the ability to teach and help people is ideal.
What you can expect to learn:
Complete understanding of film photography from the making of film to the development and analogue printing
Candidates will be given limited quantities of film to shoot and experiment to get a first-hand understanding of the entire process.
Historical processes like Cyanotype, Van Dyke Brown, Salt Printing and Wet Plate Collodion.
Managing and maintaining a darkroom.
Research and experimentation methodology for chemical based experiments.
At the end of the engagement, the fellow can expect to receive a certificate of completion, a letter of recommendation from CPB Co-founder, Varun Gupta and a complete working knowledge of Film & Alt Photo practice to take forward into artistic or commercial life. Should the candidate be interested, they can work on a personal project with mentorship from Varun during the fellowship period. Based on performance during the fellowship, there is a potential for a full time role being offered to the selected candidate.
Timings & Location
You are expected to work from the CPB Foundation office in Kottivakkam. Regular Working hours & days: Monday to Saturday - 10 AM to 7 PM (weekends are dependent on programming schedules and deadlines). Any working Sunday can be compensated with leave during the coming week(s) with prior consultation of your reporting manager.
Your availability will be required beyond the regular hours for certain projects.
How to Apply
Send an email to careers@chennaiphotobiennale.com
Please attach your updated resume and a short portfolio along with a covering note on why you are applying for this role. You can link a specific page on your behance or website however applications with only Instagram links will not be considered.
FELLOWSHIP TESTIMONALS
My time at CPB has been one of the most unique and enriching experiences of my professional life. I remember when the lab was just a shared vision that all of us worked to bring to reality and now our darkroom has become a go-to resource for analog enthusiasts not just in Chennai but all of India. I’ve had the opportunity to share the experience I’ve gained from a career working in analog media while also learning something new on every step of this journey. It is an experience that I’ll cherish for years to come.
- Gautami
Working at the CPB Darkroom is a wonderful opportunity to work with a team of experts in the field. The infrastructure and facilities provided have allowed me to experiment freely with processes such as wet plate collodion, black and white reversal processing and large format photography. The vivid life of the darkroom is something I will always cherish through the rest of my career.
- Anshul
My time as part of the darkroom team at CPB was instrumental in my analog journey. It offered unique learning experiences and resources that allowed me to indulge in various alternate processes and experiment with my practice.
- Indu Liza Benny
The CPB Darkroom Internship has deepened my understanding and appreciation of alternative and analog photographic processes. The resources available such as cameras, enlargers, film, lab equipment, and most importantly the expertise of the team have helped me grow as an artist.
- Ayuj